Where to buy fabric, patterns and notions/trims

You need to wash and iron all your fabric before your class, in the way that the garment/item will be washed and ironed when it's finished. Fabric can shrink in the wash - cottons often up to 5cm in length per metre plus some on the width! Therefore, when buying your fabric we'd recommend that you buy extra 50-100cm in length, in case fabric shrinks when washed and/or you need to pattern match.

Don't wash denim and corduroy in the machine as it gets permanently creased. We would recommend that you hand wash it, maybe in the bath for long lengths. Then ring it out by hand and dry as usual.

You can test-wash fabric by cutting two 10x10cm squares, just wash one and iron/hang dry to see if it has shrunk

Please contact physical shops before visiting to check opening times/if they are still trading (let us know if they are not and we will update the page)!

Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, UK

We sell a small range of new, reclaimed and vintage fabrics in our classroom for use in our beginner sewing classes and courses & Stitch Classes for making items such as cushion covers, purses & bags (£5 mtr cash paid to teacher in class). We also have a few 6 inch zips (£1), cotton tape bag straps (50p). Plus we sell magnetic pincushions (£7), pins (£3.50) and grader rulers (£15)

Fabric Land on Western Rd Brighton is cheapest for EVERYTHING and has a large range of commercial garment patterns. fabricland.co.uk/brighton.htm | 76 Western Road, Brighton, West Sussex BN1 2HA (next to Robert Dyas, near Argos)01273 822257

Ditto Fabrics ***Get a 10% discount flyer from us for Ditto Fabrics when you're next in class***Ditto on Kensington Gardens is a Brighton institution & has lovely end of line designer fabrics at affordable prices, plus trimmings such as ribbons, feathers, and buttons. 21 Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1 4AL dittofabrics.co.uk01273 603771

Closs & Hamblin (C&H Fabrics) ***Get a 10% discount flyer from us when you're next in class - for use in the Brighton C & H store***

Fabric Family ***Get a 5-10% discount when you mention Sew In Brighton sewing school***Based in Imperial Arcade opposite Churchill Square, Brighton, Hassen and Vesi of Fabric Family sell a massive range of haberdashery and some good basic fabrics at good prices. Has to be seen to be believed! 14 Imperial Arcade, Brighton, BN1 3EAVisit their Facebook page here

Fabric Godmother is an online fabric shop based in Portslade. She sells fabulous, reasonably priced dressmaking fabrics along with all the other bits you need (patterns, habby etc). She also has regular open days. Shop online at fabricgodmother.co.uk/open-days/

Express Repairs: 37 Blatchington Rd BN3 3YL. Tel 01273 763945. Owner Mr Levent has lots of skins in basement £3 per sq foot. He also sells clasps, buckles, D-rings etc – go in between 9.30 and 1.30 Mon-Sat to see him as his staff (manning the shop after 2pm) are not able to sell the skins

Dragonfly Fabricsdragonflyfabrics.co.uk/ (Online company also open by appointment and with regular open days). Fabrics include a lovely selection of natural linen fabrics including eco or bio linens as well as a large range of boiled wool, cotton fabrics (including cotton jersey fabric) voiles, corduroys, jersey knits, cotton flannels along with dress patterns and haberdashery.1 Southview Villas, East Street, Mayfield, East Sussex, TN20 6TX. 01892 - 731 087 Map link here

Lewes, East Sussex

the-stitchery - An attic emporium stocked to the rafters with haberdashery, fabric and knitting yarn, and home to the-S boxWe’re upstairs in the historic Riverside building in the centre of Lewes12-16 Riverside, Cliffe Bridge, High Street, Lewes BN7 2RE

Horsham, West Sussex, UK

C&H Fabrics- For curtain fabric, wool, haberdashery, craft materials and a selection of dressmaking fabrics. Can make up curtians in your chosen fabric and offer a free home measuring service. https://www.candh.co.uk/ Tel: 01403 242127

John Lewis - Good quality fabrics for curtains, blinds, upholstery and a small selection of dressmaking fabrics. Also some sewing machines and accessories. Albion Way, Horsham RH12 1LP Tel: 01403 214 740

Crawley, West Sussex, UK

The Cloth Store - A good variety of dressmaking fabrics and haberdashery and good value. 40 Queens Square, Crawley RH10 1HA

Hobbycraft - Large store for arts and craft projects with a small selection of commerical patterns, sewing and dressmaking fabrics and sewing machines. County Oak Retail Park, London Rd, Crawley RH11 7XN

Montgomery (Debanhams) - A selection of curtain, blind and upholstery fabric of good quality. In Crawley County Mall

Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK

C&H Fabrics - For curtain fabric, wool, haberdashery, craft materials and a selection of sewing and dressmaking fabrics. Can make up curtians in your chosen fabric and offer a free home measuring service. https://www.candh.co.uk/

World of Sewing - An extensive range of sewing machines as well as haberdashery and accessories.56-64 Camden Rd Tunbridge Wells http://www.worldofsewing.com/

Leather 4 Craft (online): Stocks a wide range of leather for all your craft projects, bags, purses, wallets, I phone cases, journal covers, bookbinding, belt and strap blanks, upholstery, and many more crafts, All trade inquires welcome from a single hide. Also offers custom made leather inserts for desks, bureaus, writing boxes, and occasional tables, in a range of seven colours with various tooling designs. http://www.leather4craft.co.uk/

Beads Unlimited The iconic Brighton Bead Shop closed in January 2016, but their website sells the full range. The shop was at 21 Sydney Street in the North Laine since 1986 serving generations of creative minds all of their beading needs. All sorts of shapes, sizes, colours and materials in beads, findings, charms, stringing, tools and kits at www.beadsunlimited.co.ukTo keep up to date with offers and new lines, sign up to their mailshot or follow on social media; just search 'beadsunlimited'.

Calico - best and softest is from Buttons & Bows in the Open Market. 60" wide. £4 metre when we last checked - see above for shop details

Spot and cross pattern paper 50p per metre from Fabric Land. You can buy from us in class for 75p a metre. Can also be bought online in 10 and 150m metre rolls from William Gee here

Grader Ruler - you can purchase Morplan graders at The Sewing Lounge for £15 cash (ask teacher) or they are £8 plus postage (minimum Morplan order £20 + postage): Click here to see/buy at Morplan. Do not buy any other brand of grader ruler! They are not as bendy, they snap easily and measurements are not so well laid out/useful

Tracing wheel – BUY from Amazon. £7.99 - free postage: Click here to see/buy online. I recommend putting a blob of superglue on the screw as can come undone.

You may want to put your final 'block' pattern onto cardboard so it can be reused easily. You can buy pink pattern card from us for £1.50 a metre or Clarkes Stationers on Bond St do a suitable A1/A0 size card called ‘Snowdon Cartridge’ for 99p

General suppliesThis is where I currently get the studio supplies, though do check Ebay and Amazon for better deals or if these links no longer work